Method and apparatus for forming and/or augmenting an energy wave



Sept. 5, 1967 c. w. BRANDON 3,339,635

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND/OR AUGMENTING AN ENERGY WAVEOriginal Filed April 28, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.

Clarence w Brandon INVENTOR.

"K dd r/ M Sept. 5, 1967 c. w. BRANDON 3,339,635

- METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND/OR AUGMENTING AN ENERGY WAVEOriginal Filed April 28, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 34 Hg. 2 y E m :2: m a::n a: as: is: a:

A Clarence w Brandon [L INVENTOR.

I 1 I I H ,BY 4) A tcomq:

Sept. 5, 1967 I c. w. BRANDON 3,339,635

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND/OR AUGMENTING AN ENERGY WAVEOriginal Filed April. 28, 19 4 8 sheetssheet 3 v 0 sk j/ 3 N i a Q) V Ia \l f w V- 5 0 W I I I I Q/ h a 1' I -a.- "3 l a &

E" i E v o a? I 94 1 V- v I flo' I I \rg m i l ll l I Q H v *5 ClarenceW Brandon n, INVENTOR.

1 BY W4,

A Home Sept. 5, 1967 C. W. BRANDON METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMINGAND/OR AUGMENTING AN ENE Original Filed 'April 28, 1964 RGY WAVE 8Sheets-Sheet 4 Clarence W Brandon INVENTOR.

BY ALJQ MQ Ammqx Sept. 5, 1967 c. w. BRANDON 3,339,635

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND/OR AUGMENTING AN ENERGY WAVEOriginal Filed April 28, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 6 Fig. 7

' Clarence W Brandon INVENTOR.

Attorneys Sept. 5, 1967 c. w. BRANDON 3,339,635

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND/OH 1 AUGMENTING AN ENERGY WAVEOriginal Filed April 28, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Clarence W BrandonINVENTOR.

BY M f A Mont]:

Sept. 5, 1967 c. w. BRANDON 3,339,635

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND/OR AUGMENTING AN ENERGY WAVEOriginal Filed April 28, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Fig. /6

Clarence W Brandon JNVENTOR.

Amman Sept. 5, 1967 c. w. BRANDON 3,339,635

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND/OR AUGMENTING AN ENERGY WAVEOriginal Filed April 28. 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Fig. (2

COMPRESSION PHASE or WAVE A a c 0 RAREFAOTIO/V PHAS 300 Fig. l3 0F WAVEE 302 3/2 I s I k\\\ A- f X, l v /;7L

. 534 l 3 338 F 9 4 p H 330 P 3 Clarence W. Brandon JNVENTOR. 352

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United States Patent 52 Claims. (Cl. 166-40) This application is adivision of copending application S.N. 376,285, filed Apr. 28, 1964, nowUnited States Patent 3,247,901, which is a division of prior applicationS.N. 431,246, filed May 20, 1954, now United States Patent 3,133,591,and relates to prior filed applications which have matured into UnitedStates Patents Nos. 2,796,129, 2,866,509, 2,689,461, 2,689,462,3,042,115, and application S.N. 431,388, filed May 21, 1954, nowabandoned.

The present invention relates to methods and appa ratuses for formingand/or augmenting an energy wave and more specifically has reference toprocesses and means whereby heat energy may be directly introduced intoa fluid medium or into a pulsating energy wave in a wave propagatingmedium; or may be abstracted therefrom and converted into heat ormechanical energy.

It is axiomatic, as stated by generally recognized authorities in thestudy of the wave transmission of energy in a wave propagating medium,that heat applied to an energy carrying wave medium during thecompression phase of an energy carrying wave therein, or abstractedduring the rarefaction phase, will increase the energy content of thewave by that amount; while the application of heat during therarefaction phase or its abstraction during the compression phase willdecrease the wave energy content to that extent. The present inventionis concerned with and based upon this fundamental principle of wavemechanics.

In its broadest aspect therefore, the basic and fundamental purpose ofthis invention is to provide means and methods whereby energy in theform of sensible heat may be directly introduced into an energy-carryingwave in order to augment or modify the total energy content of theenergy wave or to otherwise modify .or control its characteristics; and,alternatively, to abstract heat or mechanical energy from anenergy-carrying wave.

A corrollary object is to apply the foregoing object and principle tothe recovery of gases and oils from petroliferous formations.

An important object of this invention is to provide processes and meanswhereby an energy-carrying wave in a wave propagating medium may beinitiated solely by the application of energy in the form of heat to themedium.

A further object of the invention is to provide means and methodswhereby an energy-carrying wave in a wave propagating medium may bemaintained by replenishing its energy losses or withdrawals through theinput of additional energy into the wave in the form of heat appliedthereto.

An additional important object of the invention is to provide a meansand method in accordance with the preceding objects whereby the energyof heat and the mechanical energy of an energy wave may be readilyinterchanged and converted.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means and methodswhereby the characteristics of an energycarrying wave in a wavepropagating medium may be modified and controlled through theapplication of ad ditional energy thereto in the form of heat atselected phase angles.

A more specific and corollary object to the immediately preceding objectis to provide a means and method whereby to obtain the phasedisplacement of an energy wave for producing heavier shock effects bythe controlled application of heat energy to an energy wave.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide processes and meanswhereby the energy of electrical impulses, including high frequencyelectrical alternatives, may be readily converted into heat energy andmay then be applied to an energy-carrying wave in a wave propagatingmedium.

An important, more specific object of this invention is to provideapparatuses and processes whereby heat energy may be introduced into anoil formation to facilitate the recovery of oil therefrom and to controlthe flow of fluids and gases in the formation by means of energy-bearingwaves propagated in the formation.

A further and subordinate object of this invention, in accordance withthe preceding objects, is to provide apparatuses and processes wherebyliquifiable gases may be introduced into oil-bearing formations forfacilitating the heating of the formation through the application ofenergy-bearing waves therein.

An additional important specific object of the invention is to provideprocesses and means whereby the dielectric properties of a formation maybe utilized for converting the energy content of an energy-carrying wavepropagated in the formation into sensible heat released to theformation.

A still further important object of the invention, and in accordancewith the immediately preceding object, is to provide apparatuses andprocesses whereby the dielectric properties of gaseous and/or liquidfluids in an oil bearing formation may be utilized to facilitateconverting the energy content of an energy carrying-wave propagated inthe formation into sensible heat released in the formation. Anotherobject is to provide apparatuses and methods whereby the compression andrarefaction phases of an energy-carrying wave may be separated or splitto permit heat energy to be added to or abstracted from a selected phaseto thereby vary and control the energy content and characteristics of awave.

Still another object resides in the provision of apparatus and methodswhereby the energy content of a wave may be selectively varied by thedirect application of heat and/ or refrigeration to a wave carryingmedium at selected phase of an energy-carrying wave therein.

An additional object is to devise apparatuses and methods whereby aconstant emission of heat at a substantially uniform rate from a heatsource may be continuously and uninterruptedly applied to a fluid mediumand continuously introduced into an energy-carrying wave therein forselectively increasing or decreasing the energy content of the wave.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide ap paratuses andmethods whereby heat energy may be intermittently applied to a fluidmedium in a precisely timed phase relative to an energy wave thereinwhereby to selectively increase or diminish the energy content and/ orvary the characteristics of the wave.

A further object is to devise an apparatus and method whereby a constantand uniform flow of heat from a source of heat may be employed toproduce pressure impulses for propelling liquid in a conduit.

A still further important purpose of this invention is to deviseapparatuses and methods whereby the introduction of heat into a mediumand/ or its removal therefrom may be readily effected by an easypositioned adjustment of heat exchange means upon a single conduitrelative to the phase of an energy wave therein.

An additional purpose is to provide apparatus and methods whereby arefrigerating system may be operatively associated with a medium wherebyheat energy withdrawn from an energy wave at one phase of its cycle maybe restored thereto at another phase in order to vary the energy contentof the wave.

And a final important object of the invention to be specificallyenumerated herein is to provide apparatuses and methods wherein theapplication of heat impulses into a medium may be precisely andadjustably timed to the generator of an energy wave therein as to thephase relation of an energy wave.

A further important object is to apply heat and/or refrigeration to anenergy wave at an adjustable phase relationship whereby the heatexchange may be caused to lag or precede the phase of the wave to causea phase displacement or frequency change of the wave; this object beingparticularly applicable to oil bearing formations for fracturing andapplying pulsating fluid pressures thereto.

These, together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic View showing one man ner in which the energycontent of an energy wave in a wave transmitting medium may be increasedby applying heat to the medium during the compression phase and/ orwithdrawing heat by refrigeration from the medium during the rarefactionphase of the wave;

FIGURES 2-4 are detail views in vertical longitudinal section, takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by the section lines 22 of FIGURE1 and FIGURE 5 showing different constructions of heat exchangers andheat generators for introducing heat into an energy-transmitting wave ina wave-propagating medium;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing a modifiedconstruction by which the sensible heat energy is introduced into theenergy-carrying wave of a wave-transmitting medium at an adjustable andpredetermined phase of the energy-carrying wave, one position of theadjusting means being shown in full lines and an alternative positionbeing shown in dotted lines therein, the timing with respect to thephase relation being effected positively in a mechanical manner;

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic view showing partly in elevation and partlyin longitudinal section an apparatus whereby electrical heat energy maybe intermittently transmitted by induction heating to awave-transmitting medium to which an energy-carrying wave has beenapplied by a wave generator, and wherein precise and adjustable timingof the phase relationships of the introduction of heat energy withrespect to the energy-carrying wave is effected;

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic view in vertical section of a portion of anoil-bearing formation and to which has been operatively connected anenergy wave generating means wherein the wave is initiated and/ ormaintained by the input of sensible heat energy and either with orwithout the application of a uniform or a pulsating liquid pressuredrive to the formation;

FIGURE 8 is a horizontal sectional detail view taken substantially uponthe plane indicated by the section line 8-8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic view showing another application of theprinciples of this invention and illustrating in particular a portion ofa liquid conducting conduit together with a device whereby sensible heatfrom a continuous source of heat is intermittently applied to the liquidin the conduit for initiating, augmenting and/ or maintaining anenergy-transmitting wave therein; and/or for applying a propulsive forceto such liquid;

FIGURE 10 is a diagrammatic view in vertical section through a portionof an oil-bearing formation and showing the manner in which heat energyfrom a continuous heat source is intermittently applied to the fluids ofa formation for initiating, augmenting and/or maintaining anenergy-transmitting wave therein; for heating the formation; and forapplying pressure to the formation fluid;

FIGURE 11 is a further modification in vertical sectional view through aportion of a well bore showing a combustion form of heater disposedtherein and which is adapted to introduce carbon dioxide gas into thefiuid medium for treating a formation;

FIGURE 12 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of theembodiment of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 13 is a view partly in elevation and partly in sectionillustrating an embodiment wherein the location of the heat input into amedium relative to the phase of an energy carrying wave therein may bereadily adjusted, alternative positions of adjustment being shown infull and dotted lines;

FIGURE 14 is an elevational View, somewhat diagrammatic, of anotherembodiment wherein heat and refrigeration may be applied to a mediumduring the compression and rarefaction phase of a wave therein, theapparatus being somewhat similar to that of FIGURE 13;

FIGURE 15 is a diagrammatic view of still another embodiment combiningthe principles of FIGURES 1 and 2 with those of FIGURE 14 and whereinheat and/or refrigeration are applied to a medium during the compressionand rarefaction phases respectively of an energy carrying wave therein;and

FIGURES 16 and 17 are diagrammatic views respectively illustrating themanner in which an energy-wave having heat energy added thereto may beutilized to release energy in mechanical work or in heat respectively.

In my prior filed applications and issued patents, there are disclosedand claimed processes and apparatuses for producing energy-bearing waveshaving predetermined characteristics in an energy-transmitting mediumand for varying and controlling those characteristics; and especiallyfor treating oil-bearing formations by such waves to facilitate therecovery of oil therefrom. Broadly disclosed in those applications areprocesses and apparatuses whereby the energy of the generated waves maybe increased, controlled or modified by the application or withdrawal ofsensible heat thereto.

The present application constitutes an improvement over these priorapplications in that it discloses and claims specific processes andapparatuses for the converting of or withdrawal of heat energy into waveenergy and for utilizing the latter; for initiating and/or maintaming anenergy-carrying wave through the controlled application of heat impulsesthereto; and for modifying and controlling the characteristics andaction of such energy-carrying waves by controlling the generation andthe application of heat impulses thereto.

Embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 12 An apparatus and method isdiagrammatically disclosed in FIGURES 1 and 12 by means of which theenergy content of an energy wave in a wave propagating medium may bemaintained or may be controllably altered by the application of heat tothe medium from a constant source of heat and/or by the withdrawal ofheat from the medium by means of a constant source of refrigeration.This apparatus and method is effective to augment or diminish the energycontent of an energy wave; to modify or control the characteristic ofsuch a wave; to maintain a constant energy content of a wave despiteinputs or withdrawals of energy therefrom; or in some instances toinitiate an energy carrying wave in a. wave propagating medium.

Illustrated in FIGURE 1 is a generator which may be of any type capableof generating an energy wave in a wave propagating machine, and whichmay satisfactorily be of the types disclosed or claimed in my priorapplications or patents mentioned above.

Acoustically or operatively connected to the wave generator 10 is aconduit 12 having a pair of branch conduits 14 and 16 disposed inparallel relation, the branch conduits in turn communicating with afurther conduit 18 constituting a continuation of the conduit 12. Thisarrangement provides parallel or branch conduits which are directlyconnected with the energy wave generator 10. An energy wave propagatingmedium of any desired type, such as water, oil, gases or the like, fillsthe conduits 12, 14, 16 and 18.

At the junction of the conduits 14 and 16 with the conduit 12, there areprovided non-return check valves 20 and 22, respectively, the formeropening inwardly into the branch conduit 14, while the latter opensoutwardly from branch conduit 16 into the conduit 12. At the oppositeends of the branch conduit, there are provided similar non-return checkvalves 24 and 26, the former,

opening in a direction to permit flow from the branch conduit 14 intothe conduit 18, while the latter opens in a direction to permit flowfrom the conduit 18 into the branch conduit 16. These valves arepreferably spring closed at any desired and/or at a regulatable tensionin any conventional manner.

In order to adjustably vary the spring closing pressure on the checkvalves, any suitable device, such as that of FIGURE 1 may be employed.For the sake of simplicity of illustration, the adjusting means isillustrated only in connection with the valve 24, although it isunderstood that it may and usually will be applied to each of the othercheck valves.

The spring pressure adjusting device comprises a spring abutment plate21 slidably received on the valve stem 23 and supporting an end of thespring 25 whose other end is fixed to the valve stem. A pair of togglelinks 27 and 29 are pivoted at 31 and 33 to an anchor rod 35 suitablymounted in the conduit and to the abutment plate. At the hinge pin 39 ofthe toggle, a control rod 41 is pivoted, the latter extending throughthe wall of the conduit and having a control knob 43. Locking of thecontrol rod in adjusted position is secured by the set screw arrangement45.

Movement of the toggle hinge by the control rod will shift the abutmentplate and thus secure a variable adjustment of the valve spring and ofthe closing pressure of the check valve.

Indicated diagrammatically at 28 is a heat exchange device which isdisposed in direct heat exchange relation with the branch conduit 14.The exchanger is of any desired character, and may conveniently compriseany of the various embodiments referred to hereafter, whether of acontinuous or of a variable rate of heat generation and/or emission; andwhether of continuous or of an intermittent or periodically interruptedrate of heat flow. In particular, this form of the invention may be of acontinuously generating and constant rate of heat emission type as inFIGURES 2-4;

A heat removing or refrigerating device is indicated at 13 which maytake the form of a coil surrounding and/or in direct heat exchangerelation with the other branch conduit 16. Although the cOoling device13 may be of a type to continuously remove heat, either at a constant orvariable rate, or with a continuous or inter mittently interrupted flow,it is particularly adapted for the same type of operation as the heatingdevice 28.

It is believed that the method of operation of this embodiment of theinvention is as follows, reference being made both to FIGURES 1 and 12,it being assumed that the device is arranged and intended to increasethe energy content of a wave, although it may in some in- 6 stances bearranged to decrease the energy content as set forth hereinafter.

When the energy-carrying wave produced in the conduit 12 by thegenerator 10 reaches the check valves 20 and 22, the compression phaseof this wave opens the check valve 20, and thus subjects the medium inthe branch conduit 14 to the compression phase of the wave. Thiscompression phase travels through the conduit 14 at the speed at whichthe wave is propagated in the particular medium with which the conduitsare filled, the curve 15 representing the pressures produced in themedium by the compression phase of the wave, and emerges through checkvalve 24 into the conduit 18. When the compression phase, however, hitsthe check valve 22, it is unable to open the same, and therefore doesnot pass into branch conduit 16.

When the rarefaction phase, which follows the compression phase of thewave, reaches the branch conduits, the check valves 20 and 24 close orremain closed; while the check valves 22 and 26 open in their turn andpermit the rarefaction phase to pass through the conduit 18, the curve19 representing the pressures produced in the medium by the passage ofthe wave through the branch conduit 16. The arrows in FIGURE 1diagrammatically indicate the direction of the wave travel in thebranchconduits.

The line 17 in FIGURE 12 represents the normal pressure in the medium ofthe two branch conduits, that is, the pressure prevailing between thepeak pressures, whether compression or rarefaction. Although this hasnot been definitely established, it is believed that thepressures ofeach conduit is substantially uniform; and that they are substantiallyequal or at least at a constant relation or proportion in the twoconduits. In any event, there is a periodic rise in pressure 15 abovethe normal 17, in the conduit 14 between the points A and B and againbetween C and D, these rises constituting the compression peaks orcompression phases of the wave; while corresponding succeeding drops inpressure 19 below the normal 17 occurs in the branch conduit 16 betweenthe points B and C.

The divided and separated compression and refraction phases of theenergy wave, separated in the branch conduits to permit the additionthereto or the removal therefrom of energy, are recombined at the valves24 and 26 and the reconstituted split phases of the restored energy waveis then transmitted by the conduit 18 to its target or receiver.

It will probably be found desirable to form the branch conduits 14 and16 of the same length as the wave being propagated by the generator 10;or equal to an integer multiple of the same and to originate thecompression phase portion 15 or the rarefaction phase portion 19 of thewave at the valves 20 or 22. In any event, in the arrangementillustrated it is apparent that the compression phase portion of thewave, representing a higher wave pressure, is maintained in the conduit14 by the generator 10 than the rarefaction phase portion of the waverepresenting a lower wave pressure which is maintained in the conduit16. Consequently, heat from the heat exchanger 28 introduced into themedium within the conduit 14 is directly introduced into the energycarrying wave itself since the latter is present only in its compressionphase. Thus, the heat input from the exchanger 28 is directly introducedinto the energy-carrying wave and serves to augment the energy contentof the same; or to maintain the energy content at a desired level; or tomodify or control the characteristics of the energy-carrying wave.

In a similar manner, heat is withdrawn from the medium by the coolingdevice 13 during the rarefaction phase of the Wave, also increasing theenergy content of the wave.

the heat exchange devices 28 or 13 alone will increase the energycontent of the energy wave, and that both of It will be now apparentthat the operation of either of the devices 28 and 13 may 'besimultaneously operated to obtain the maximum rate of energy increase inthe wave energy content.

In the arrangement of FIGURE 1, it is possible for the wave transmittingmedium itself to travel in the conduits. Thus, where the embodiment isemployed in conjunction with a water drive for pressurizing an oil orgas bearing formation for recovering oil or gas from the same, thepressurizing fluid may travel from the conduit 12 through the conduit 14and the conduit 18 to its destination. In such an arrangement it ispossible to utilize the fluid medium in its pressurizing operation whileimparting thereon an energy-carrying wave from the wave generator 18 andfor introducing heat into the wave by the heat exchanger 28 and/ or thecooler 13.

In this form of the invention, the characteristics of the branchconduits 14 and 16 are so chosen as to maintain the energy-carrying wavein its compression phase in the 'branch conduit 14 and in itsrarefaction phase in the branch conduit 16. This condition may bebrought about by properly determining the relative lengths of the branchconduits; their shapes; the mean or standing pressure of the mediumstherein; and by controlling the frequency of the wave generator 10. Inany event, it will be evident that when these proportions andcharacteristics are so determined and atttained, the compresssion phaseof the wave will be maintained more or less continuously in the branchconduit 14, and thus will permit the continuous introduction of heatenergy from a heat exchanger 28 directly thereinto. Similarly, heatenergy may be extracted by the cooler 13 from the rarefaction phasewhich is maintained more or less continuously in the branch conduit 16.

As aforesaid, an introduction of heat energy into the wave-carryingmedium of the conduit 14 may be eflected in a large variety of ways.When the wave therein is in its compression phase, any continuous sourceof heat will be effective to introduce energy into the wave. Shown inFIGURES 2-4 are different manners in which this heat exchange may beeflectuated.

Thus, in FIGURE 2, there is disclosed a conduit portion 30 which may bean intermediate portion of the branch conduit 14 shown in FIGURE 1. Aheat exchanger 32, which may be the heat exchanger diagrammatically andgenerally indicated 28 in FIGURE 1, is shown as comprising preferably acylindrical drum enclosing and/ or in heat exchange relation with theconduit portion 30. A plurality of tubes 34 extend through the drum 32and also through the conduit portion 30'. A source of heat is applied tothe interior of these tubes in any desired manner, as, for example, bypassing combustion products or other heated fluid medium therethrough,and the tubes 34, in turn, directly conduct and transmit their heatenergy into the medium passing through the conduit portion 30, and whichthus surrounds the tubes. In this form of the invention, therefore, heatas energy is directly introduced into and heats the wave propagatingmedium on the compression phase of the latter and the conduit portion 30by direct heat exchange or conduction.

In the modified construction of FIGURE 3, the conduit portion 30 islikewise surrounded by the heat exchangers cylindrical drum-like casing32. However, an electrical heating coil 36 is disposed in the casing 32and surrounds the conduit portion 30, this heating coil being suppliedby electrical energy from any desired source, not shown. If desired, thecasing 32 may be filled with a liquid or other heat conducting medium tofacilitate transfer of the energy from the coil 36 to this adjacentsurrounded portion of the conduit 30 for heating the same. The coil 36may thus function as conventional electric conductive type of heater; ormay be of an inductive type for inducing through a high frequencyelectric current heat energy in the surface of the conduit 30 fromwhence the heat energy is discharged by conduction into thewave-carrying medium within the conduit.

A still further method of heat exchange is disclosed in FIGURE 4,wherein the conduit portion 30 is surrounded by the cylindricaldrum-like casing 32. In this arrangement, however, dielectric heating iseffected. For that purpose, a pair of electrodes 38 and 40 areinsulatingly mounted within the interior of the conduit portion 30 andhave their opposite extremities connected to electric conductors 42 and44 which in turn form part of an electrical circuit, not shown. Anydesired number of these electrodes or resistance elements may beprovided. In this arrangement, the flow of current passing through thehigh resistance of the dielectric material 38 is converted into heatwhich in turn is given by conduction into the medium within the conduitportion 30.

It will also be understood that in some instances the electrodes 38 and40 may be connected to the opposite sides of the electrical circuitwhereby the fluid itself in the conduit passing between the electrodesconstitutes the dielectric material to be heated by the flow of current.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGURE 1, therefore, it is evidentthat a continuous source of heat may be utilized to introduce heatenergy into the energy content of an energy-carrying wave, by means ofheat exchange with the wave-propagating medium at a portion which iscontinuously at the compression phase of the wave.

In the operation as above set forth, it has been assumed that theapparatus and method are functioning to add energy into the wave.However, by reversing the arrangement energy may be withdrawn from thewave. Thus, by placing the heating and cooling devices, either alone ortogether, upon the rarefaction and compression conduits 16 and 14,respectively, the devices will each decrease the waves energy content.

This embodiment of the invention may thus function as a means forreceiving energy from an energy wave; and the entire assembly, by virtueof this reversibility of operation, is inherently ideally adapted toperform as a heater or cooler for air conditioning or other purposes.

Embodiment of FIGURE 5 FIGURE 5 is very similar to the arrangement ofFIG- URE 1 in that the wave generator 10 is connected to a conduit 12which in turn is in controlled communication with compression phase andrarefaction phase branch conduits 14 and 16 having communication with afurther conduit 18 forming a continuation of conduit 12. Also as in thepreceding embodiment, the heat exchanger 28 and/or the cooling device13, which may be of the various characters previously described or ofthe types set forth hereinafter in the specification, are provided.

However, instead of employing adjustable self-closing one-way checkvalves to control the communication between the branch conduits 14 and16 and the conduit sections 12 and 18, there are provided a pair ofcontrollable, positively actuated two-way control valves 46 and 48 whichfor ease of illustration are shown as of the rotating or oscillatingtypes. Each of these valves is preferably provided with a diametricallydisposed passage or port 50 which, upon pivoting of the valve, willalternately place the conduit sections 12 and 18 in communication withthe compression phase branch conduit 14 and with the rarefaction pha'sebranch conduit 16.

Actuating levers 52 and 54 are operatively connected with the valves 46and 48 for pivoting them between their two alternative full and dottedline positions as shown in FIGURE 5. By means of pivotal connections 56and 58 upon the levers 52 and 54 respectively, the valve levers areinterlinked and an adjustable link con sisting of a pair of sections 60and 62 is provided with an adjusting member such as the turnbuckle 64.By adjusting the overall length of the links 60, 62 the phaserelationship between the two valves 46 and 48 may be varied. A controlrod 66 is connected to the valve lever 52, at the pivot 56, and in turnis operatively connected with the operating means of the wave generator10, not

9 shown, whereby the pivoting of the valves may be timed to theoperation of the generator 10 and thus to the phase of the energy waveproduced by the latter.

In this way, the valves can be so adjusted that the branch conduit 14will be placed in communication with the conduit 12 only when thegenerator, and consequently the energy-carrying wave produced thereby,is on its compression phase, while the valves will place the rarefactionbranch conduit 16 in communication with the conduit sections 12 and 18only when the generator is on its rarefaction phase.

It will thus be apparent that by means of the valves and connectinglinkage for the same the branch conduit 14 is maintained upon thecompression phase of the wave while the conduit 16 is maintained uponthe rarefaction phase of the same or at any desired phase angle relativethereto, either continuously or periodically varying all at diiferentfrequencies from that of the wave. The heat from the heat exchanger 28and/ or the cooling device 13 will therefore be placed in operativeheat-exchange relation with the wave-propagating medium, with certaintyand preciseness at a time when the energy wave is upon its appropriatephase, and therefore the addition of heat energy to the wave or thewithdrawal of the same therefrom will be effected.

It will further be evident that the adjusting means 64 permits a preciseadjustment and timing of the valves 46 and 48 with respect to eachother. The embodiment of FIGURE is therefore characterized by a positivebut adjustable mechanical timing of the application of theenergy-carrying wave from the wave generator to the branch conduits 14and 16.

It is also possible in this embodiment to separately time and actuateeach of the valves 46 and 48 by means of the actuating levers 52 and 54and the rods 60 and 62 by connecting the latter two rods to differenttiming and actuating mechanisms. Since the principles of such operationare believed to be obvious, a detailed explanation is deemed to beunnecessary.

As in the embodiment of FIGURE 1, energy may be withdrawn from the wave,this embodiment affording all of the operations set forth in connectionwith FIGURE 1.

Embodiment 0) FIGURE 6 In FIGURE 6 there is disclosed a different mannerof applying the principles of this invention whereby the necessary timedapplication of the input of heat energy to the compression phase of theenergy-carrying wave in the wave-propagating medium is attained withoutseparating the wave phases, but by synchronizing or matching anintermittent or periodic input of heat with the intermittent or periodiccompression phases of an energy wave by synchronizing the drive of thewave generator and of the heat producing means; or by varying the phaseangle of the application of the heat to the wave.

Thus, as in the preceding embodiments, the mechanical wave generator 10,of any of the various types previously referred to such as that of myprior Patent 2,866,509, is in direct communication with the conduit 12.By means of the generator 10, an energy-carrying wave is produced in theconduit 12 which travels in the direction indicated by the arrows,producing alternate compression and rarefaction phases in a manner wellunderstood. Surrounding a portion of the conduit 12 is the casing 68 ofa heat exchanger or heat input device. Disposed within this casing is aninduction coil 70 which surrounds the conduit 12. The coil in turn isenergized by an alternating current electrical generator 72 of anysuitable character whereby, upon operation of the generator 72, the coil70 will be energized at a frequency corresponding to that of therotation of the generator 72. Disposed within the conduit 12 is a massof highly resistant electrically conductive material 74 such as metallicwood or fiber, or any other desired substance, which is retained inplace as by a 0- raminous screen cylindrical enclosure 76.

The generator 72 energizes the induction coil 70 which in turn causesheating of the material 74. Since the electric energy from the generator72 consists of a series of electric impulses the coil 70 will produceheat impulses at the same rate in the material 72.

In order to correlate the timing of the inductive high frequency heatimpulses imparted to the material 74 by the coil 70 when energized bythe generator 72, a common drive shaft 78 is provided connecting theelectrical generator 72 with the wave generator 10 for operating them atthe same speed, and therefore either at the same frequency or at aninteger multiple thereof. An adjustable electric switch 80 of a rotarytype may be provided which is rotated by the mechanical wave generator10 at the same frequency or at an integer multiple thereof, and throughelectric cables 82 and 84 controls the cycle of the electric generator72. By adjusting the switch 80, the phase relationship between thegenerators 10 and 72 and the time at which heat impulses are generatedor induced in the material 74 may be precisely adjusted, and thuscorrelated with the compression phase or the rarefaction phase of thewave mechanically produced by the wave generator 10 in order tointroduce the heat energy into or remove the same from the energycontent of the wave.

In this form of the invention, intermittently produced electricallygenerated heat impulses are applied to the wave-carrying medium onlyduring the compression phase of the energy-carrying wave propagated bythe medium in order to augment the energy content of the wave.

It will, of course, be evident that the induction type of heater 68 or70 of FIGURE 6 may be replaced by the heaters of FIGURES 3 and 4; andmay in turn be utilized in place of the heaters 3 and 4 in theembodiments as previously described.

This apparatus may also be used for initiating an energycarrying wave ina wave propagating medium. For this purpose the wave generator 10 isomitted and the electrical generator is operated in any desired mannerto obtain the desired frequency. As the coil 70 is energizedperiodically, heat is intermittently produced and delivered to themedium by the element 74. Each heating of the latter causes a heatingand expansion of the adjacent layer of the wave propagating medium. Thesequences of periodic expansions thus create a series of compressions inthe medium, this resulting in a compression wave having successivecompression and rarefaction phases and constituting an energy carryingwave.

The frequency and amplitude of this wave is of course determined andcontrolled by the excitation of the member 74 in response to regulationof the generator 72.

It will be further evident that by timing the electrical and heatimpulses to occur during the rarefaction phase of the energy wave, theenergy content of the wave may be accordingly reduced, if desired.

By a suitable use of devices of this character, the energy content of awave may be maintained at a desired level or may be increased or reducedas desired; and the phase of an energy wave in a medium may be displacedby imparting a lag or an advance thereto to produce a hammer eiTect.

Embodiment of FIGURES 7 and 8 FIGURES 7 and 8 disclose a somewhatdifferent method and apparatus for carrying out the principles of thisinvention. Shown at 86 is a well casing or bore extending into anoil-bearing or other formation 88 and wherein the bore has been enlargedin any of the known manners to provide a chamber 90. A conduit 92extends through the casing from the surface of the ground into thechamber 90, being provided with a non-return check valve 94 at its lowerend. By means of a pump 96 of any desired character, a pressure mediumsuch as water or the like is introduced from a supply conduit 98 fromany suit-able source into the conduit 92,. where the same is applied 1against the face of the formation in the chamber to constitute apressure drive which may be of a conventional and known type, and whichis commonly employed in secondary recovery operations.

Alternatively, or in addition to its function as a pressure drive, thepressure medium may be utilized for disrupting, or otherwise treatingthe formation as set forth in my prior applications or patents mentionedabove. A metallic cylindrical housing 100 is disposed in chamber 90 andpreferably upon the bottom wall of the same, this housing being open, ifdesired, at its upper end, as shown. The housing is preferably of amaterial having a good heat conductivity; and/ or is provided with aplurality of heat radiating fins or ribs 102 for the purpose ofincreasing the heat conductivity of the housing with respect to thepressure medium in the chamber 90.

A heating element 104, which may be of any desired character and whichas illustrated in FIGURE 7 may conveniently consist of an electricheating coil, is disposed in the casing 100,- the electric conductors106 for supplying current to this coil extending up the well casing 86to the surface and being connected to any suitable source of electricpower. Conveniently, a pressure gauge 108 is positioned upon the surfaceof the ground and is connected as by a conduit or line 110 with theinterior of the chamber 90 as by its extremity 112.

The apparatus disclosed in FIGURE 7 possesses a number of functions. Itis inherently capable of use as a heating element whereby heat from anelectric source may be directly applied to the pressure drive fluidand/or to the formation for heat treating the same in known manners andfor known purposes.

More particularly, however, the heater 100 is utilized for the samepurposes as the preceding embodiments, namely, to apply heat energy intoan energy carrying wave. To this end, the pump 96 is operated as agenerator of energy carrying waves; or an energy wave generator of anydesired type, such as those referred to in my above mentioned priorapplications or patents, is acoustically coupled to the conduits 98 and/or 92 for producing an energy carrying wave therein.

Upon the compression phases of this wave, which may be determined fromthe gauge 108, electrical energy is applied to the heating coil 104 insynchronized or properly timed relation whereby the heat energy producedby the conversion of the electrical energy in the coil 104 will beradiated in heat impulses by means of the fins 102 of the heater casing100 into the pressure medium for the purposes of increasing the energycontent thereof, maintaining or restoring its energy content or formodifying the characteristics of the energy wave.

The timing of the heat impulses of the heater 100 may, of course, becontrolled by properly timing the electrical impulses applied to thecoil 104, this latter timing being effected by any of the methods ormeans set forth hereinbefore and may be coordinated with the wavegenerator of the energy carrying wave in any of the manners and meansdisclosed herein.

It will be understood that the means for conveying the electrical energyinto heat energy in the casing 100 may be varied in nature. Thus,instead of the conventional heating coil, the element 100 may consist ofan induction heater which may, for example, be of the type disclosed inFIGURE 6, may be a dielectric heater or an arc heater as disclosed inFIGURE 4, or may be of any type set forth in this application.

The apparatus disclosed in FIGURE 7 may also be utilized without the useof the energy bearing wave generating means previously mentioned inconnection with this figure, as a means for initiating and maintainingan energy bearing wave of any desired character.

Thus, when the electrical energy is intermittently and rhythmicallyapplied to the conductors 106, there will be a rhythmic and intermittentenergization of the coil 104, and consequently, an intermittent heatingand cooling of the heater casing 100. As the latter is intensely andquickly heated and cooled, the medium adjacent the same will be highlyheated and even flashed into its gas or vapor phase, and the resultantexpansive pressure of the highly heated contacting liquid will produce acompression wave radiating from the heater. By properly timing thefrequency of the electrical pulsations, an energy carrying wave ofpredetermined and controlled characteristics will be set up.

It will be observed that the intensity of the heat generated in themember will in turn control the strength of the energy waves generatedthereby in the surrounding medium. It is believed that the intensepulsating heat of the casing 100 and its fins 102 will vaporize theadjacent layer of molecules of the surrounding medium, producing a shockor compression wave radiating from the casing 100. Each successiveheating impulse will, in turn, produce another shock or compressionwave. The frequency of the shock wave will of course be the time betweenthe successive heating impulses emitted by the casing 100, while thewave length will be the distance measured radially fromthe casing 100,between successive compression phases of the shock wave produced in themedium.

It is to be noted that in some instances the check valve 94 may beomitted from the conduit 92 and the pulsations produced in the latterwill then be continuously transmitted to the medium contacting the heatexchanger and the formation.

It will be apparent that the apparatus and the method discussed anddisclosed in connection with FIGURE 7 can also be employed as a heaterand/ or as a wave generator in other environments than in a well bore inan oil bearing formation.

Still further, it is within the purview of this invention to provide twoor more heaters of the character mentioned and to operate the samesimultaneously and in various timed relations to produce various desiredresultant waves and modifications of what may be termed the primaryenergy carrying wave, whether the latter is produced by the conduit 92or by one of the electric heater means associated with or substitutedfor the members 104, 106.

Embodiment 0 FIGURE 9 The principles of this invention may be practicedby still another means and process as disclosed in FIGURE 9. Thus, thenumeral 200 indicates a heat exchanger of any of the previously referredto types and which are capable of emitting continuous heat radiations.Associated in intimate heat-exchange relation with the heater 200, inany desired or conventional manner, is a chamber 202 which communicateswith a pipe or conduit 204 by means of a non-return valve 206. Thisvalve may be controllable in any of the manners set forth in connectionwith the embodiments of FIGURE 1 or 5.

An inlet conduit 208 communicates with the chamber 202 through anon-return valve 210 which likewise could be controllable in theaforesaid manners. Liquid from any suitable source is supplied by aconduit 212 through a valve chamber 214 having a non-return valve 216,which also could be operated in the above referred to manners to createan energy wave therein, into the conduit 204. The volume of the chamber202 may be readily varied, in order to vary the operatingcharacteristics of the apparatus, in any desired manner, such as thatdisclosed in FIGURE 10. A branch conduit 218, provided with a cutoffvalve 220, supplies a portion of the liquid from the conduit 212 intothe chamber 208.

When the control valve 220 is open, fluid from the conduit 212 entersboth the valve chamber 214 and the valve chamber 208. From the former,it enters the conduit 204 for travel through the same in the directionby the arrow therein, while from the chamber 208 it enters the heatingchamber 202. In this latter chamber, it comes into contact with theheater 200 and is heated thereby, as for example by flash heatingcausing an expansion of the liquid and an increase in the pressurewithin the chamber 202. This increased pressure closes the valve 210,but opens the valve 206 and is exerted against the fluid in the pipe204, thus applying an impulse to the latter in the direction of thearrow. As the pressure escapes from the chamber 202, the pressure in thelatter drops until the valve 206 again closes and the valve 210 opens,due to the constant pressure prevailing in the supply conduits 212 and218, permitting the inlet of additional fluid and a recurrence of theexpansion. Thus, the device automatically produces expansive pulsationswhich are applied to the liquid in the pipe 204.

The apparatus is thus capable of initiating and maintaining a pulsatingwave in the fluid in the pipe 204. Alternatively, if the fluid in thepipe 204 is free to travel in the direction indicated by the arrow, theoperation of the chamber 202 is that of a pump imparting a pulsatingpropulsive force to the fluid within the pipe. It should be noted thatthe fluid supplied to the pipe through the conduit 212 also is utilizedto produce the propulsive force upon the fluid.

It is also within the comprehension of this invention to manipulate thevalve 220 periodically in any desired manner to assist in the forming ofan energy transmitting wave or a propulsive wave.

In this form of the invention, therefore, a constant source of heat isemployed to produce intermittent pulsations which may be utilized eitherto produce a pulsating, energy-carrying wave or to propel fluid in apipe.

It is believed evident that the principles of FIGURE 9 are applicable toand may be employed in conjunction with the various other modificationsset forth herein.

Embodiment FIGURE 10 In the embodiment of FIGURE 9, a pulsating forcewas applied by a constant source of heat to fluid in a pipe. In thearrangement of FIGURE 10, the same principle is utilized to apply apulsating force to a fluid medium surrounding the heat impulse generatorand from this medium to an oil bearing formation.

Thus, the numeral 221 designates an oil bearing formation in which isdisposed a well bore 222. Indicated at 224 is a conduit by means ofwhich a liquid pressure driving medium may be introduced into the wellbore, as indicated by the arrows, the same emerging from the pipe 224 asby a non-return check valve assembly 226. If desired, this valve couldbe adjustably regulated and controlled as in FIGURES 1 and 5.

The lower end of the pipe 224 extends into the upper end of acylindrical casing 228 which is provided with valved outlets as setforth hereinafter, and Whose bottom rests upon the bottom of the wellbore and may be secured thereto in any desired manner, not shown.Disposed within the cylinder 228 is a heat exchange device 230 which maybe of any desired type such as those set forth herein and which may becapable of emitting a continuous heat flow of substantially uniformintensity.

At its upper end, the heat exchanger casing 228 is provided with a bodyhaving an outwardly flaring terminal portion 232 and which surrounds thelower end of the conduit 224, this body being connected by aconventional form of slip joint 234 with the upper end of casing 228whereby the flared end may be raised or lowered with respect thereto. Afrusto-conical balfle or deflector 236 is carried by the lower end ofthe conduit 224 and is received within the flared upper end 232. Aplurality of non-return valves 238 are provided controlling the annularpassageway between the flared end 232 and the conical deflector 236.These last mentioned valves may be independently or simultaneouslycontrollable as in FIGURE 1 and/or FIGURE 5 to function individually orto function in unison as a combined wave generator.

There is thus provided a chamber 240 within the casing 2280f the heatexchanger, which chamber surrounds the heating device 230 and includesthe space between the upper surface of the heating device and thedeflector 236.

v 14. This chamber may be varied in volume by raising or lowering theportion 232 as above mentioned. The above described principle of varyingthe volume of the pressure generating chamber may likewise be applied tothe chamber 202 of FIGURE 9. 1

It is believed that the operation of this form of the invention, whichis similar to that of the embodiment of FIGURE 9, will now be readilyapparent. The expansion of the liquid or gas introduced by the pipe 224into the chamber 240 causes a pressure impulse to pass through thevalves 238 into the medium surrounding the heat exchange device, andthis pressure is transmitted in the form of a pressure impulse or thrustinto the formation 220. It is contemplated that by a series ofpulsations of the fluid in the conduit 224, a series of discharges offluid past the check valve 226 into the chamber 240 will be effected.These will result in a series of periodic pressure impulses produced bythe continuous heat source 230 which impulses will pass through thevalve assembly 226 and will apply a pulsating pressure to the fluidmedium contacting the face of the formation in the well bore, therebyresulting in the generation of an energy-carrying wave in the mediumwhich will be applied to the formation. Further the pressure of thefluid medium itself will be applied to the formation as a fluid pressuredrive.

By varying the volume of the chamber 240, the characteristics includingthe amplitude of this wave may be regulated. The deflector 236facilitates the application of the wave directly to the face of theformation, and therefore is to some extent at least directive of thewave.

Still further, however, it is possible to apply by any suitable means,not shown, additional periodic pulsations directly to the fluid mediumin the bore 222 and thereby produce additional augmenting or modifyingenergy-transmitting waves therein. The heat generating device in turncan be used to augment the energy of any of these waves or to modifytheir characteristics in the manners previously set forth.

Also, the energy level of the fluid discharged by conduit 224 may beraised as by heating the fluid, before or after its entry into the wellbore, so as to allow the heat means 230 to add energy into the energywave, or to trigger the fluid into initiating energy impulses.

Embodiment 0 FIGURE 11 FIGURE 11 indicates a portion of the formation490 having a well bore 492 therein in which is disposed a packer 494 ofany suitable known character and which is engageable in tight fittingsealing engagement with the well bore. Depending from the packer is acasing or container 496, vertically slotted or apertured as at 498 inits side wall, for communication with the well bore. At its bottom, thecasing is closed by a bottom wall 500.

A conduit 502 extends through the packer 494 whereby the packer andcasing are secured to the conduit and are supported and verticallyadjusted or positioned in the well bore by the same. The conduit alsoserves to introduce fluid into the well bore below the packer forapplying a pressure drive and/or pulsating pressures to the adjacentformation.

The casing 496 is divided by a transverse partition 504 into an upperchamber 506, which is a mixing and distributing chamber as set forthhereinafter, and a lower combustion and heating chamber 508. A convexedor dish-shaped foraminous diffuser plate 510 is provided in the chamber506 above the partition 504.

Air and gas supply lines 512 and 514 extend from the surface, down thewell bore and through the packer 494, the plate 510 and the diaphragm504 into the combustion chamber 508, terminating adjacent the bottom ofthe latter in non-return valves 516 and 518 respectively.

Ignition is effected and maintained in the combustion chamber 508 by anysuitable known means, not shown. The combustion products are dischargedfrom the combustion chamber by an exhaust pipe 520 having its adit 15adjacent the bottom wall 500 and being extended through and supported bythe partition 504, with its out end disposed in the chamber 506 betweenthe members 504 and 510 and being provided with a non-return check oroutlet valve 522.

Adjacent or just below the packer, the conduit has a non-return checkvalve 524 and from thence extends downwardly through the combustion orheating chamber, having its lower end extended into the well bore belowthe bottom wall 500 and provided with a non-return check or dischargevalve 525.

At a portion within the mixing chamber 506, and preferably in the upperportion thereof adjacent the valve 524, the conduit 502 has an outletbranch 528 provided with a non-return discharge valve 530.

This embodiment possesses a number of operations and functions. First,it functions as a heater, since the burning in the chamber 508 of thecombustion components supplied by the pipes 512, 514 causes the casing496 to radiate heat into the medium in the well bore below the packersurrounding the same and/or into the adjacent formation. Thus, theformation itself is directly heated at any predetermined location,beneficially effecting the recovery of oil therefrom according to knownmethods. It should be especially noted that the location of the heaterWithin the well bore or formation insures that all heat generated willbe effective to heat the formation.

Further, it is often found desirable in the treating of formations tofacilitate the secondary recovery of oil or gas therefrom, to introducecarbon dioxide into the fluids of the pressure drive and/ or theformation. This function is performed by this device since the carbondioxide combustion product are exhausted from the combustion chamber 508by the exhaust pipe 520 and discharge into the chamber 506 beneath thediffuser plate 510. Since this last chamber is filled with the fluidpressure medium, the exhaust gases bubble up through the same and arethoroughly intermingled therewith in the upper part of the chamber,being carried into the formation through the slots 498 with the fluidpressure medium as shown by the arrows.

Still further, the apparatus constitutes a preheater for the fluidmedium, which is thus passed through the heating or combustion chamber508 prior to the discharge into the well bore by the valved outlet 526.The heated fluid pressure medium is thereby rendered more effective as apressurizing or drive medium and further heats the formation withbeneficial results in the oil recovery therefrom.

Moreover, by appropriately proportioning or adjusting in any desiredmanner the closing pressures of the valves 524 and 526, whereby theclosing pressure of valve 526 exceeds that of the valve 524, the portionof the conduit between these valves functions as a heat pump with apulsating high pressure discharge of the pre-heated fluid. Thisprinciple of operation has been disclosed and claimed in my priorapplications and patents mentioned above. Briefly, the fluid between thevalves is heated, causing the pressure thereof to increase until thereis a discharge through the valve 526. Thus periodic, pulsatingdischarges are obtained, thereby applying pulsations or pulsating energywaves to the medium in the well bore and to the formation. Thesepulsating discharges will travel up the well bore about the casing 496,being further heated thereby, and being applied to the adjacentformation and also to some extent intermingling with the fluid in andemerging from the mixing chamber.

It will be further noted that the valve 530 may be controllable in anydesired manner whereby when rendered operable it will provide a steadyor a pulsing discharge into the mixing chamber, depending upon whetherthe pressure of the fluid medium supplied to the conduit 502 is steadyor pulsating.

By the arrangement of the edit of the exhaust pipe 520 adjacent thebottom wall 500, any possibility of water leakage into the chamber 508water logging the same is avoided, since the combustion pressure of thegases in the top of the chamber will form the level of such water belowthe inlet end of the exhaust pipe.

Embodiment of FIGURE 13 In FIGURE 13 is disclosed an arrangement whichwill facilitate and enable the application of heat selectivity to thecompression phase or to the rarefaction phase of an energy-carrying wavewith precision and at various desired phase relationships. Theprinciples of this embodiment may be applied to the preceding forms ofthe invention as a substitute therein, or as adjunct thereto, asdisclosed in FIGURES 16 and 9; and also may be applied to the conduits92 and 224 of FIGURES 7 and 10, respectively.

Indicated at 300 is any of the previously referred to conventional formsof generators of an energy carrying wave, which generator is incommunication with a conduit section 302. Aligned with the conduitsection 302 is a further conduit section 304 which may be considered asforming a continuation of the conduit section 302. A sleeve conduit 306is slidably and telescopingly engaged with the adjacent ends of theconduit sections 302, 304 and is slidably adjustable longitudinally ofthe same. As illustrated, the sliding conduit .306 is disposed upon theexterior of the conduit sections 302, 304 but alternatively could bepositioned within the same. It is, of course, understood that suitablepacking means between the relative sliding conduits will be provided.

Mounted upon the adjustable conduit 306 is a heat exchange device 308which may be of any of the previously described constructions of heatexchange devices whether heating or cooling. In addition, it may be alsoof the constructions disclosed and claimed in my prior copendingapplications and issued patents mentioned previously.

The arrangement is such that the heating device 308 with its associatedsliding conduit section 306 may be adjusted longitudinally with respectto the sections 302, 304.

Shown in full lines at 310 is an energy carrying wave of a particularfrequency and characteristic and which may be produced by the wavegenerator 300 or other source, while the dotted line 312 indicatesanother energy wave of a different frequency and/ or characteristics andwhich may be produced by the generator 300- or other source.

The sliding arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 13 thus provides a meanswhereby the application of the heat impulses to the medium within theconduits may be adjusted to position the input or Withdrawal of heat atthe peak of the compression phases or of the rarefaction phases or atany other phase angle of any wave generated in the medium. Thus as shownin full lines, the heat exchanger is positioned so as to cause an inputor withdrawal of heat from the compression phase of the wave 310; whilein dotted lines is shown the position of the heat exchange device forintroducing or abstracting heat from the compression phase of the wave312.

Therefore, for any given wave, it is merely necessary to slidably adjustthe members 306, 308 whereby the time of the heat input or heatwithdrawal relative to the phase angle of the wave may be precisely andaccurately controlled.

-It will, of course, be understood that the heating device 308 may beemployed to cause the heat input during a rarefaction phase of the wave,when it isdesired to remove energy, in whole or in part, from the wave.

Still further, the device 308 may comprise a refrigerating or coolingdevice of the character previously illustrated at 13 in FIGURES 1 and 5,whereby heat may be withdrawn from either the compression phase or therarefaction phase and at any desired phase angle of the wave, asdesired, for the purposes of decreasing or increasing the energy contentof the wave, or for effecting a phase Embodiment FIGURE 14 FIGURE 14 isa further diagrammatic arrangement and embodiment and which employs theprinciples of FIG- URE 13, and which includes a conduit having thealigned sections 320, 322 with an intermediate section 324 positionedtherebetween and spaced therefrom. This conduit is of course filled witha wave propagating medium of any desired character. Slidably andtelescopically as sociated with the adjacent portions of the conduitsections 320, 324 and 326, 322 are a pair of slidable adjusting sections326 and 328. One of these sections, such as the section 328, is providedwith a heating device 330 which may be of any of the previouslydescribed or previously referred to types; while the other slidingsection 326 is provided with a refrigerating or cooling heat exchangedevice 332 which may be of any suitable type such as the refrigeratingcoils 13 of FIGURES 1 and 5.

Associated with the heating device 330 is a refrigerating circuit whichincludes any known conventional pump or compressor unit 334 having aconduit 336 on its suction side and a delivery conduit 338 on its outputside, this last-mentioned conduit communicating with the device 330. Theintake conduit 336 is connected to the conduit 340, which in turncommunicates with the device 330, there being a suitable manual controlvalve 342 disposed in this line. Thus, there is established arefrigerating circuit through the device 330. By reversing the flowthrough this refrigerating circuit, as indicated by the double headedarrows, the unit 330 can become a refrigerating or cooling means. 4

In this embodiment as so far described, it is to be understood that anydesired means may be provided for causing the sliding movement of theunits 326', 332 and 328, 330. Thus, each may be individually adjusted tocause the same to add heat at any desired phasev timing with respect tothe energy wave passing through the conduit sections. This constructionenables both heat and cooling etfects to be applied to the same conduitfor increasing or decreasing the energy content of a wave therein.

It is further possible, in this form of the invention, to cause therefrigerating circuit to include both the members 330 and 332. When theheater 330 is of a type in which a heating and a refrigerating fluid maybe passed, the intake conduit 336 of the refrigerant compressor or pump334 is connected thereto, and similarly, the conduit 340 is connected tothe other side of the unit 330. In this arrangement the branch conduitincluding the manual control valve 342 is omitted, or is closed.Consequently, the refrigerating cycle will discharge heat into unit 330and intake or receive heat in the unit 332, thereby respectivelyapplying heat into the wave medium at one device and removing it fromthe wave medium at the other.

The joint use of the units 330, 332 serves to increase the temperatureor energy difference between the-two phases of an energy transmittingwave.

Also by applying the heating and cooling at various phase angles of thewave impulse and at relative positions to each other, the original waveform may be changed to one of controllable characteristics.

Embodiment of FIGURE A still further embodiment is shown in FIGURE 15which incorporates therein the principles set forth in connection withFIGURES 13 and 14. This arrangement is 18 particularly adapted to theparallel branch conduit construction in the split phase embodiments ofFIGURES 1 and 5, in which the energy wave is split as to its phase, thecompression phase occurring in one branch conduit and the rarefactionphase in the other branch conduit.

Thus, there is disclosed a pair of conduits 350 and 352,

it being understood that as in FIGURES 1 and 5, and in the mannerdiagrammatically indicated in FIGURE 12, that the compression phase of awave is present in one of these conduits and the rarefaction phase inthe other. As in FIGURE 13, each of the conduits 350, 352 is formed withtwo aligned sections, and these aligned sections are connected by atelescoping sleeve 354 for the conduit 350 and 356 for the conduit 352.Heat exchange devices 358- and 360 are respectively mounted upon thesleeves 354' and 356, these heat exchangedevices being identical withthe previously described units 332 and 330, respectively of FIGURE 14.There is also provided the compressor or pump member 362 having adelivery conduit 364 connected to the unit 358, a suction conduit 366connected with the unit 360. A return conduit 368 connects the units 358and 360.

In this form of the invention the refrigerating circuit causes an outputof heat from one of the units and an intake of heat at the other unit,thereby selectively heating and refrigerating the selected phases of theenergy wave maintained in the branch conduits 350 and 352.

It is believed that the operation of this embodiment of the inventionwill be readily apparent from a consideration' of the precedingdescription in connection with FIGURES 1, 5 and 12, together withFIGURES 13 and 14, and accordingly a repetition of the operation istherefore believed to be unnecessary.

Embodiment of FIGURE 16 In FIGURES 16 and 17 there has beendiagrammatically disclosed means and methods whereby energy may betransmitted by an energy-carrying wave and may be withdrawn therefrom inthe form of mechanical energy as in FIGURE 16 or in the form of heatenergy as in FIGURE 17.

Referring first to FIGURE 16, it will be observed that a mechanical wavegenerator 400 of any desired character, which as illustrated includes apiston 402 reciprocated by a crank member 404, is in acousticalcommunication with a liquid or. other energy wave propagating medium ina chamber 406. The latter communicates as by a conduit 408 with achamber 410 to which is connected an energy receiving device 412. Thelatter, as illustrated, may also consist of a piston 414 connected witha crank member 416 to which rotation is to be imparted.

In a manner now generally well understood, the reciprocation of thepiston 402 will produce an energy carrying wave 418 which travels fromthe medium in the chamber 406 to that in the chamber 410. As explainedin detail in my prior copending applications and patents mentionedabove, there will be a region, indicated by the line 420 in the chamber406 at which there is no further displacement of the medium, but thedisplacement energy of the same as caused by the piston 402 is convertedinto wave motion. This is known as the zero point of the medium.Similarly, in the energy receiving chamber 410 there is also a zeropoint 422 at which the wave energy is reconverted into mechanical energycausing a displacement of the medium, which displacement actuates thereceiving piston 414. Y

By this arrangement, an energy carrying wave may be produced; energy maybe supplied to this wave through the generator 400 and delivered to atarget or receiving station 412. Indicated at 424 is a heat exchangedevice 1 9 Embodiment of FIGURE 17 FIGURE 17 diagrammaticallyillustrates a system very similar to that of FIGURE 16 in that the wavegenerator 400 having a piston 402 and a crank driving means 404 isplaced in acoustical connection with the chamber 406 which by means of aconduit 408 communicates with the receiving chamber 410.

Also as in the preceding form there is produced an energy bearing wave418 which extends between the zero points 420 and 422 in the chambers406 and 410, respectively. Still further, the heat exchanger 424previously referred to is provided. However, in the receiving chamber410, in place of the mechanical power take-off means previouslydescribed, there is provided merely an enclosing wall or surface 430.

In contact with and against the surface 430 there is disposed a gaseousmedium, which is produced and maintained at the desired region in anydesired manner, and which is of such a nature that a layer of gaseousmaterial 432 is produced. For this purpose, a liquefiable gas may beemployed which may alternate bet-ween its gaseous and its liquid phasesduring the pulsations or fluctations of the pressure applied to the sameby the medium in which the energy-carrying wave is propagated. Thus, asthe compression phase of the wave reaches the gaseous material, the samewill be compressed into its liquid phase, but when the rarefaction phaseof the wave is applied thereto, this material may convert into itsgaseous phase.

In any event, the presence of a gas between the surface area 430 of thechamber 410 and the front or boundary of the wave propagating mediumwill result in the conversion of the wave energy in that medium intoheat energy. This heat, of course, may be withdrawn from the wall of thechamber 410 for any desired purpose and in any desired manner. Forexample, the arrangement is particularly effective for applying heatinto an oil bearing formation, since the various passages of theformation will function as the connecting conduit 408; and the contactof the medium against the oil deposits will result in' the action setforth in connection with the members 410, 430 and 432.

As in the preceding form, the heat exchange device 424 may be utilizedto either augment or decrease the energy content of the energy wave inthe propagating medium.

In all of the forms of the invention hereinbefore disclosed, it shouldbe noted that any heat energy not converted into wave energy will beapplied to the medium and/ or the formation in the form of sensible heatwhereby beneficial results may be obtained.

Also, in all of the embodiments herein, it is possible to so vary thetime at which the heat energy is introduced into or removed from amedium, that a variety of different results may be selectively obtained.Thus, heat input and/or withdrawal from the wave upon the compressionand rarefaction phases may be so timed as to increase or decrease theenergy content. Further, by ap propriately varying the phase angle ofthe wave upon which the energy is input and/or withdrawn, the phase ofthe wave may be shifted to cause either an advance or lag in the wavecrests. Thus, the compression phase may be displaced either forward orbackward to prolong the same, thereby producing a hammer shock orgreater peak in the wave, where this action is timed to lengthen thecompression phase and increased wave impact or push results. Where thetiming is such as to retard the wave, or deepen its rarefaction, agreatly reduced pressure impact or pull results.

In general, therefore, the embodiments disclosed present processes andmeans for continuously applying heat energy to and/ or withdrawing heatenergy from an energy wave for controlling the characteristics of thesame.

It is intended that the embodiment of FIGURE 11 may be utilized in thesame manner as that of FIGURE 10 by merely providing an opening throughthe packer 494 to permit fluid flow therethrough. When so modified thisconstruction as well as that of FIGURE 10 can be utilized as a fluidpump for discharging oil or fluid from a well bore, in the manner shownin FIGURE 9. In such uses, it will be observed that any heat notconverted into energy will be beneficial in lowering the viscosity ofthe fluid in the surrounding formation.

In using the combustion heater of FIGURE 11 for formation heating in awell bore in the arrangement of FIGURE 1, the combination productspassing up the well bore will function as a vapor lift, therebyimproving production of the well.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will bereadily understood and further explanation is believed to beunnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction shown and described, and,accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The process of controlling the energy content of an energytransmitting wave in a wave propagating medium, which comprises; placinga refrigerating circuit in heat exchange relation with a medium wherebythe heat output of the refrigerating circuit is introduced into themedium at one phase of an energy transmitting wave therein and the heatintake of the refrigerating circuit is operatively applied to the mediumfor withdrawing heat from the medium at the opposite phase of the energytransmitting wave therein.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein a portion of the medium is confined inan elongated zone, the heat introduction into and withdrawal from themedium being effected in spaced regions in said zone.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein a portion of the medium is connfied inan elongated zone, the heat introduction into and withdrawal from themedium being effected in spaced regions in said zone, varying thespacing between said regions to thereby vary the phase angles at whichthe heat is introduced into and withdrawn from the energy wave.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein portions of the medium are confined inseparate zones, the heat introduction and the heat withdrawal beingelfected in difierent zones.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein portions of the medium are confined inseparate zones, the heat introduction and the heat withdrawal beingelfected in different zones, varying the position in one zone at whichthe heat exchange is eifected to thereby vary the phase angle of theheat exchange with the energy wave.

6. A process for increasing the energy content of an energy-carryingmedium comprising dividing the medium into two components; producing anenergy-carrying wave in both said components but with its compressionphase in one component and with its rarefaction phase in the othercomponent, and applying heat directly to the medium at a controlledphase angle in one of said componentswhereby to vary the energy contentof the energycarrying wave.

7. The process of claim 6 including the step of operatively connectingthe medium to an oil or gas bearing formation for applying the energywave thereto.

8. The process of claim 7 wherein said formation is fractured thereby.

9. The process of claim 7 wherein a liquefiable gas is introduced intosaid formation to receive said energy wave.

10. The process of claim 9 wherein said formation is fractured thereby.

11. A process for increasing the energy content of an energy-carryingmedium comprising dividing the medium into two components, producing anenergy-carrying wave in both said components 'but with its compressionphase in one component and with its rarefaction phase in the othercomponent, and withdrawing heat directly from the medium at a controlledphase angle in one of said components whereby to vary the energy contentof the energy-carrying wave.

12. An apparatus for increasing the energy content of an energy carryingwave comprising first and second conduits each containing a wavepropagating medium, a wave generator for producing an energy bearingwave, a pair of control valves, each valve communicating with theadjacent ends of said first and second conduits, means for operatingsaid control valves in timed relation to said generator whereby thegenerator will be connected to the first conduit when the wave is on itscompression phase and to the second conduit when the wave is on itsrarefaction phase, means for applying heat to said first conduit tointroduce energy into the energy carrying wave.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said operating means includes alinkage connecting said control valves to each other for simultaneousoperation.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein said linkage includes adjustablemeans to vary the relative timing of said control valves.

15. The combination of claim 12 including means operatively connectingsaid conduits to. an oil or gas bearing formation for applying theenergy wave thereto.

16. The combination of claim 15 including means to introduce aliquefiable gas into said formation to receive said energy wave.

17. A method of increasing the energy content of a wave comprisingdividing a transmitting medium into two portions, alternatively couplinga wave generator to said portions whereby the generator will be coupledto one portion on the compression phase of a wave and to the otherportion on the rarefaction phase of the wave, and applying heat energyto said medium in one of said portions at a controlled phase angle.

, 18. The method of claim 17 including the step of op erativelyconnecting the medium to an oil or gas bearing formation for applyingthe energy wave thereto.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said formation is fractured thereby.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein a liquefiable gas is introduced intosaid formation to receive said energy wave.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said formation is fractured thereby.

22. A method of increasing the energy content of a wave comprisingdividing a transmitting medium into two portions, alternatively couplinga wave generator to said portions whereby the generator will be coupledto one portion on the compression phase of a wave and to the otherportion on the rarefaction phase of the Wave, and withdrawing heatenergy from said medium in one of said portions at a controlled phaseangle.

23. The method of claim 22 including the step of operatively connectingthe medium to an oil or gas bearing formation for applying the energywave thereto.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said formation is fractured thereby.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein a liquefiable gas is introduced intosaid formation to receive said energy wave.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said formation is fractured thereby.

27. A process for controlling the energy content of an energytransmitting wave in a wave propagating medium which comprises;producing an energy transmitting wave in a wave propagating medium in aconduit, placing a heat exchanger in heat exchange relation to themedium in the conduit, moving the exchanger along the conduit to varythe phase angle at which the heat exchange is in 22 heat exchangerelation to the medium relative to the energy transmitting wave therein.

28. A process for controlling the energy content of an energytransmitting wave as specified in claim 27 wherein said heat exchangeradds heat to said medium.

29. A process for controlling the energy content of an energytransmitting wave as specified in claim 27 wherein,

said heat exchanger withdraws heat from said medium.

30. The process of applying energy to a formation comprising placing aheat exchanger in heat exchange relation with a formation through afluid medium,

applying pressure to said formation through said fluid medium,

producing energy carrying wave pulsations in the pressure applied tothemedium,

causing intermittent operation of the heat exchanger in a fixed timedrelation to the energy carrying wave pulsations,

continuing the intermittent operation of the heat exchanger by theenergy carrying wave pulsations until the formation is fractured.

31. The process of claim 30 wherein the formation is an oil or gasbearing formation.

32. The process of claim 30 wherein said fluid medium contains aliquefiable gas.

33. The process of claim 32 wherein the formation is an oil or gasbearing formation.

34. The process of applying energy to aformation comprising placing aheat exchanger in heat exchange relation with a formation through afluid medium,

introducing a liquefiable gas into said fluid medium,

applying pressure to said formation through said fluid medium,

producing energy carrying wave pulsations in the pressure applied to themedium,

causing intermittent operation of the heat exchanger in a fixed timedrelation to the energy carrying wave pulsations. g

35. The process of claim 34 wherein the formation is an oil or gasbearing formation.

36. The process of applying energy to a formation comprising introducinga liquefiable gas. into said formation,

placing a heat exchanger in heat exchange relation with said formationthrough a fluid medium,

applying pressure to said formation through said fluid medium,

producing energy carrying wave pulsations in the pressure applied to themedium,

causing intermittent operation of the heat exchanger in a fixed timerelation to the energy carrying wave pulsations.

37. The process of claim 36 wherein said formation is an oil or gasbearing formation.

38. The process of claim 36 wherein the intermittent operation of theheat exchanger is continued by the energy carrying wave pulsations andsaid formation is fractured.

39. The process of claim 38 wherein said formation is an oil or gasbearing formation.

40. The process of applying heat energy to a formation comprisingplacing a heat exchanger in heat exchange relation with a formationthrough a fluid medium, providing a source of heat to said heatexchanger, applying pressure to said formation through said fluidmedium,

producing energy carrying waves in the pressure applied to the medium,

causing intermittent operation of the heat exchanger in a fixed timedrelation to the compression portion of the energy carrying waves,

thereby transporting heat energy to said formation.

41. The process of claim 40 wherein said formation is fractured.

42. The process of claim 40 wherein said fluid medium contains aliquefiable gas.

43. The process of claim 42 wherein said formation is fractured.

44. The process of claim 40 wherein a liquefiable gas is introduced intosaid formation.

45. The process of claim 44 wherein said formation is fractured.

46. A process for increasing the heat energy content of an oil or gasbearing formation to which an energy wave carrying medium is beingapplied comprising introducing a liquefiable gas into said formation toreceive energy carrying waves,

dividingthe medium into two components,

producing an energy carrying wave in both of said components but withits compression phase in one component and its rarefaction in the othercomponent,

applying heat directly to the medium in one of said components,

whereby to vary the energy content of the energy carrying waves beingreceived by said formation.

47. The process of claim 46 wherein said formation is fractured.

48. A method of increasing the heat energy content of an oil or gasbearing formation to which an energy carrying wave is being appliedcomprising introducing a liquefiable gas into said formation to receiveenergy carrying waves, dividing an energy wave transmitting mediumconnected to said formation into two portions,

alternately coupling a wave generator to said portions whereby thegenerator will be coupled to one portion on the compression portion of awave and to the other portion on the rarefaction portion of the wave,

applying heat energy to said medium in one of said portions.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein said formation is fractured.

50. The process of controlling the energy content of an energytransmitting wave in a wave propagating medium which comprises placing afirst heat exchange device in heat exchange relation with the medium atone phase angle of an energy wave therein,

placing a second heat exchange device in heat exchange relation with themedium at a different phase angle of an energy wave therein,

varying the phase angles at which each of the exchangers is in heatexchange relation with the medium.

51. The process of controlling the energy content of an energytransmitting wave in a wave propagating medium comprising applying heatto the medium at one phase angle of an energy Wave therein,

withdrawing heat from the medium at the opposite phase angle of theenergy wave,

varying the phase angle at which heat is withdrawn from the medium.

52. The process of controlling the energy content of an energytransmitting wave in a wave propagating medium comprising applying heatto the medium at one phase angle of an energy wave therein,

withdrawing heat from the medium at the opposite phase angle of theenergy wave,

varying the phase angles at which heat is applied to and is withdrawnfrom the medium.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,134,610 10/1938 Hogg 166-602,136,881 11/1938 Johnson 166-60 X 2,549,464 4/ 1951 Hartley -24 X2,584,606 2/1952 Merriam et a1. 166-59 X 2,614,635 10/1952 Williams eta]. 166-40 X 2,670,802 3/1954 Ackley 166-60 X 2,799,641 7/1957 Bell166-45 X 2,836,033 5/1958 Marrison 116-137 OTHER REFERENCES Theory ofSound, by Lord Rayleigh, vol. II, pp. 224-230, 2nd edition, MacmillanCo., London (1878) QC223 R26.

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

D. H. BROWN, Assistant Examiner.

6. A PROCESS FOR INCREASING THE ENERGY CONTENT OF AN ENERGY-CARRYINGMEDIUM COMPRISING DIVIDING THE MEDIUM INTO TWO COMPONENTS; PRODUCING ANENERGY-CARRYING WAVE IN BOTH SAID COMPONENTS BUT WITH ITS COMPRESSIONPHASE IN ONE COMPONENT AND WITH ITS RAREFACTION PHASE IN THE OTHERCOMPONENT, AND APPLYING HEAT DIRECTLY TO THE MEDIUM AT A CONTROLLEDPHASE ANGLE IN ONE OF SAID COMPONENTS WHEREBY TO VARY THE ENERGY CONTENTOF THE ENERGYCARRYING WAVE.